Did you resolve to give more this year? Here is an easy way. When shopping online, try using Amazon Smile, which donates 0.5 percent of your purchase, or Goodshop, which can donate up to 10 percent, to Northern Virginia Family Service. Every little bit counts!
Beautify Your Community: Kendra Scott Fundraiser
On Tuesday, June 7, from 6 to 8 p.m., you can do three great things: Enjoy a summer evening at Reston Town Center, find beautiful jewelry and support Northern Virginia Family Service! Kendra Scott at Reston Town Center will be donating 20 percent of proceeds to NVFS, and also providing champagne, lemonade and small treats for guests. We look forward to seeing you there!
Hilda Barg 25th Anniversary Open House
NVFS operates three shelters, one of which is Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center in Woodbridge – and you’re invited to their open house! Join us Saturday, June 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. to learn more about how Hilda Barg is creating permanent pathways out of homelessness for local families — and how you can help. For information, please contact Andrea Eck or visit our website.
Do you want to help now? Volunteers are needed on June 11 to greet guests at the Hilda Barg Shelter and direct them to parking. To volunteer, contact Karen Horowitz to sign up.
It’s Inventory Time
This is a huge task that requires a lots of volunteer effort and is a great way to kick off summer. Please help us take stock of donated inventory if you can.
Monday, June 27 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m.@ Centreville Clock Tower. Email Navara Cannon.
Tuesday, June 28 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. @ Falls Church Clock Tower. Email Navara Cannon.
Wednesday, June 30 from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. @ Save ‘N’ Serve in Manassas. Email Karen Horowitz.
Thursday, June 30 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. @ SERVE Hunger Resource Center. Email Karen Horowitz.
Happy Birthday and best wishes to all of our volunteers with June birthdays!
Help NVFS Win $2K With Your Selfie!
Today is Do More 24, a local movement powered by the United Way. Do you have a Facebook or Twitter account? Today, you can Do More with your selfie!
Take action today: Snap a quick selfie (individual or group) and tweet it on Twitter between 12-3 p.m. AND/OR post it to Facebook between 3-6 p.m. It’s that easy! Visit our website for the rules. Share your #Selfie4Good, and help NVFS Do More in Northern Virginia.
Feeling camera shy? You can always Do More by donating. See how your $24 investment can change lives today.
NVFS Gala Raises $730,000+ for Our Vulnerable Neighbors
Among many passionate and inspiring moments at NVFS’ Road to Independence Gala last month, NVFS President and CEO Stephanie Berkowitz summarized the agency’s mission to more than 600 supporters, both longtime and new: “Together, we will continue to open doors of opportunity, create pathways to prosperity, and help children and families across our region realize their fullest potential. Together, we are permanently lifting families out of poverty, and creating a stronger, more vibrant community for all.”
The evening’s festivities also honored the tremendous impact that J. Hamilton Lambert and Karen Schaufeld have each had on Northern Virginia, as well as the personal success of Glenda, a former client and now NVFS employee, in finding stability and self-sufficiency through NVFS. (Watch her video here.)
Check out the recap of the Gala, plus the official photos, and know that NVFS is grateful for the support of each and every one of you!
Days of Service Abound
CEB and CJM Bring Festivals of Fun to Head Start
CEB volunteers brought festivities to Head Start children and delighted them during their playground time with ring toss, magnetic fishing and buried treasure games, as well as face painting, make-your-own musical instruments and matchbox car racing. The following week, volunteers from CJM Financial enthralled Head Start children during playground time with a different variety of activities including make-your-own bird feeders, pasta necklaces, a tricycle race and, everyone’s favorite, an obstacle course. Thank you to CEB and CJM for bringing joy to playground time!
It’s Time for the Garden to Grow
Volunteers from BB&T Insurance visited the Head Start center to prepare and expand the children’s garden just in time for planting season and to teach the children about growing vegetables. Some volunteers weeded out the raised garden bed and refreshed it with fertilizer and mulch, made four smaller beds next to it, and then planted herb seeds, tomato plants, peppers, eggplant, carrots and cucumber. At the same time, other volunteers visited all 12 classrooms to read the children Growing Colors, a book that matches colors to different fruits and veggies. They also brought eggplant, squash, peppers, tomatoes and beans for the children to see and touch. Thank you, BB&T Insurance, for introducing the children to gardening — they are excited to learn how to care for and watch their garden grow!
Fannie Mae + Break a Difference = Make a Difference!
The children at our SERVE campus can hardly wait until the finishing touches are completed for their new playground, thanks to volunteers from Fannie Mae and Break a Difference, who labored over two days to construct the new playground. The children haven’t had playground equipment since the shelter addition in 2012, which increased the facility to 92 beds. Just in time for summer vacation, the children — who represent 40 percent of the shelter population — will be able to climb, slide and play games in addition to riding bikes. Many thanks to everyone at Fannie Mae and Break a Difference for their hard work in making this a reality for our kids!
AOL Monster Help Day
Three groups of volunteers spread their might on AOL Monster Help Day to help NVFS. One group visited the SERVE campus to clean out storage pods and sort and stock food in preparation for a large donation in the Hunger Resource Center. Another group helped prepare the final touches for our annual gala, which was later that evening. The final group assembled 800 home-care kits, which were distributed to families from more than a dozen NVFS programs. Thanks to everyone at AOL for doing such a “monster” job of supporting NVFS!
Marriott Cleans Up!
Volunteers from Westfields Marriott Hotel visited the SERVE campus for their annual service day to do a much-needed power washing and scrubbing of the buildings and sidewalks and to mulch and plant beautiful new flowers in the garden outside the Early Head Start classroom. The group also sorted and stocked some of the 10,000 pounds of food donated from the postal service’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive, which will be a huge boost to families whose children can’t get school lunches during summer vacation. Many thanks to Marriott and the U.S. Postal Service!
Volunteer Opportunities
Shelter Driver – Imagine how hard it is to be homeless, especially when you have no car to get to and from your job. You can strike this barrier down for families by transporting shelter residents to and from jobs, doctor appointments and public assistance centers. Shelter drivers are needed on weekday mornings and afternoons. We supply the van and the gas! All driving is done locally. Volunteers must be at least 21 years old, with a valid driver’s license. Contact Karen Horowitz, 571.748.2626.
Create Summer Fun for Kids! – SERVE is looking for volunteers knowledgeable in art, theater, music, literacy, physical education, sports, etc., to engage shelter children in fun, stimulating daytime summer activities. Volunteers must be at least 16; adult volunteers must also complete background checks. Weeknight and weekend opportunities also available. Contact Karen Horowitz, 571.748.2626.
Interpreters – Volunteers are needed to translate for clients in our mental health, immigration and legal services to ensure clear communication between the client, staff and service providers. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, able to maintain confidentiality and submit to a criminal background check. Urgent languages include: French and Vietnamese. Contact Navara Cannon, 571.748.2536.
Do You Enjoy Greeting, Meeting and Helping People? – SERVE is looking for volunteers to greet visitors at the information desk in our main building. Includes assisting walk-in clients and donors, checking in clients for appointments, answering phones and supporting staff with administrative projects. Volunteers must be at least 18 years and have good Microsoft Word and Excel skills.Contact Karen Horowitz, 571.748.2626.
Northern Virginia Family Service 10455 White Granite Drive, Suite 100, Oakton, VA 22124 Phone: 571.748.2500
